How to write and publish scientific paper in SSCI Q1- Q2 Web of Science journals in 2025-2026: a detailed step-by-step guide
The Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
The Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) is a Clarivate Analytics citation index that features a carefully selected collection of high-quality, peer-reviewed academic journals in the social sciences. Originally developed by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), the SSCI is now maintained by Clarivate Analytics. This index covers fields such as sociology, psychology, economics, political science, and other interdisciplinary disciplines that help us understand human behavior and society. This means that you will not see clear SSCI Q1 journals in medicine or SSCI Q1 journals in engineering; only if they have any other index simultaneously.
SSCI journals are important for researchers looking for reliable literature in their fields and serve as a criterion for academic excellence, often affecting career advancement.
Publishing in SSCI-indexed journals is often seen as a key indicator of a researcher’s knowledge level and impact in the field. These journals undergo rigorous peer review, ensuring that only the best research is shared with the academic community. Therefore, getting published in these journals is a significant goal for academics who aim to build a strong collection of SSCI publications to enhance their professional standing. This is particularly important in today’s competitive academic environment, where universities and funding organizations place high value on research output.
Sometimes, universities require researchers to publish in journals listed in specific databases, like the Social Sciences Citation Index. This can boost the visibility of your research paper and attract more social science readers. This increased exposure helps share your findings with a broader audience and improves your academic reputation, which can lead to more collaboration opportunities, funding, and invitations to conferences.
To find Q1 and Q2 journals in the Web of Science database and determine their index, researchers can consult the Web of Science database, in particular, through the Master Journal list or JCR portal, which provides access to an array of scientific literature. Within this database, specific filters allow users to identify journals categorized under the SSCI, facilitating targeted searches for relevant literature. Recognizing the importance of SSCI indexing enables researchers to strategically select journals that align with their research goals and audience, maximizing their work’s impact.
This is just to remind you about the existing citation indexes in the WoS Core Collection:
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE): clinical, natural and applied sciences
Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI): arts and humanities
Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI): social sciences
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI): all disciplines
If we look into the statistics of the WoS Core Collection, we will see the following facts related to the Social Sciences Citation Index:
3,547―actively publishing journals covered
47―subject categories represented
11.6m+―records with comprehensive metadata.
Publishing in SSCI journals demonstrates that scholars are dedicated to high-quality research and helps them stand out among academics who play a key role in influencing their fields. Many institutions (especially in China or the US) and funding bodies prioritize SSCI publications in their evaluation criteria.
The trends indicate a growing expectation for SSCI publications. Thus, the following question remains: is publishing in SSCI journals in 2025 a distant dream or an achievable reality for researchers?
Differences between SCI, SSCI, and SCIE
You may encounter three frequently mentioned terms: the Science Citation Index (SCI), the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Although they may sound similar, each serves a specific purpose in research.
The SCI was established in the 1960s and is a more exclusive collection that focuses on high-impact journals in the natural and physical sciences. Think of it as the VIP section of the scientific literature. This primarily includes journals recognized for their rigorous peer-review processes and significant contributions to their fields, making them a vital resource for those aiming for high visibility in their research.
The SCIE, in turn, offers a broader range of journals covering multidisciplinary scientific research. This expansive database allows researchers to access a wealth of information and explore diverse topics and new trends.
As mentioned before, the SSCI specializes in social sciences, providing a comprehensive index of high-quality journals dedicated to fields like sociology, psychology, education, and economics. The SSCI highlights the importance of understanding societal structures and human behavior.
Current trends in getting published in SSCI-indexed journals
In recent years, there has been a clear trend highlighting the growing importance of publications in the SSCI. Universities and research institutions focus more on solving real-world problems such as public health issues and social inequalities.
The demand for research that influences public policy and drives social change is one of the main reasons for the popularity of the SSCI. Universities are realizing that research should connect with people outside academia. As a result, researchers with SSCI publications are often seen as leaders in their fields and receive more opportunities for funding, collaboration, and community projects.
In addition, decisions on hiring, promotions, and tenure are greatly impacted by research output, so having articles in SSCI journals can improve a researcher’s chances for advancement.
Many institutions are investing in resources and incentives to encourage SSCI publishing because doing so helps find solutions to important social problems. Fast publishing in the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) has become crucial, especially for Chinese scholars, as it enhances their academic visibility and contributes to the global research community.
As academic and societal needs change, the focus on SSCI research is likely to continue growing, becoming a key part of success in today’s academic world.
Useful tips for researchers
As we can see, publication in SSCI journals is not only possible but also very popular and necessary.
Here, we provide some useful tips on how to get published in Q1 and Q2. This will help you publish your valuable research in SSCI journals.
- Choose the right journal
Identify SSCI journals that align with your research focus and target audience. Review their aims, scopes, and previously published articles.
- Understand submission guidelines
Familiarize yourself with each submission requirements regarding formatting, word count, reference style, and documentation to avoid unnecessary rejections.
- Write a strong manuscript
Pay attention to the structure of your paper, including a clear introduction, robust methodology, detailed results, and a thoughtful discussion. Ensure your arguments are well-supported by evidence.
- Be clear and concise
Make sure the real-life implications, novelty, and methods are clear.
- Engage with the literature
Highlight how your research addresses gaps in knowledge.
- Seek feedback
Prior to submission, please seek feedback from your colleagues. Consider using professional scientific or language editing services to polish your writing and ensure clarity.
- Network and collaborate
Collaborations can enhance research quality and increase your chances of publication.
How can Science Publisher Company help you?
Our company specializes in various aspects of the publication process and offers various services. Therefore, it’s not a problem for us to help you publish your discoveries in Q1-2 SSCI journals.
We believe that such professional assistance doesn’t diminish you or your study. This ensures that your research is presented in the best light possible, meets the rigorous standards expected by SSCI journals, and you will be provided with the tools you will need to succeed.
Time is a precious resource, and delegating tasks to experts can significantly ease your workload. We all know that researchers often struggle with finishing their papers, sometimes not having a completed article when they need to publish in a reputable journal. If your paper requires editing or proofreading, you may lack the necessary skills, especially as a non-native speaker. The publishing process can be overwhelming, with complex journal platforms and tricky communication with editorial boards. In addition, researchers should be aware of fake journals that falsely claim to be indexed in databases like Scopus and Web of Science, as these can mislead and waste valuable time.
Therefore, Science Publisher Company is ready to provide you with our comprehensive Publication Support Services. We offer assistance at every step of the publication process by providing pre-submission, submission, and post-submission services. You also have an opportunity to order our professional pre-review of your manuscript. Our experts will evaluate your manuscript and give their reasonable feedback on how to enhance your work. The most popular services, including journal selection, manuscript formatting, assistance with revisions, and communication with the journal team are also available to all of our customers.
In a modern world, you don’t need to spend months on writing a research paper. Time is precious nowadays! Smart researchers use our Manuscript Writing Services to boost the quality and amount of their research. We use human writing without artificial intelligence. Our team consists of PhD-qualified professionals with vast backgrounds in the research areas of SSCI journals. We can make your research original and unique and custom write an article for Web of Science SSCI Q1 Journals that meets all the necessary academic standards.
Our company offers the opportunity for co-authorship in articles for Web of Science SSCI Q1 journals, ensuring enhanced academic collaboration and recognition. By providing this service, we will assist you in publishing in esteemed journals and encourage collaborations among researchers, thereby advancing your career.
We offer a unique service called H-index boosting to our clients. If you want your SSCI articles to receive more citations and boost your reputation, we are here to help. Our targeted approach will enhance your visibility and strengthen your profile in the academic community.
Our friendly managers will consult you at every step and provide the necessary services that may be needed. We will help authors publish in premier journals with high impact factor and Q1 journals.
We can assure you that publishing in Q1-Q2 SSCI journals in 2025−2026 is an achievable reality!
Science Publisher Company guarantees the following:
- Original content
- Deadline management
- Confidentiality
- Customer support
- Compliance with the requirements
Don’t postpone your successful publication! Contact us today for details about publishing in SSCI-indexed journals.
Contacts:
WhatsApp: +44 7465 6919 81; +371 28 348 407
Email: mailbox@science-publisher.org, sciencepublisher.coauthorship@gmail.com
Feel free to send your requests and materials